How six senators will transform Australia

Wake up Australia, wake up. After six years of federal government chaos we now have one of the most stable governments in the developed world. Not only does the government have a strong majority in the lower house but ‘The Six’ plan to support the government in all its major policy decisions.

Business Spectator exclusively yesterday revealed the clear intentions of the six new senators – the three new Palmer party senators and three small party senators (Abbott has won control of the Senate, October 9). Today part of that revelation will be confirmed at a press conference, although it may take a short time before the full implications of the accord between the six senators is understood by the broader community.

When all Australians appreciate the ramifications – not just Business Spectator readers – a lot more people will understand just how lucky we are to have such stable government in a world of turmoil, which extends from the US to the countries of Europe. Even in China, where there is political stability, there is debate over the sense of direction. Abbott and his 12-point plan gave a crystal clear direction for the Australian government (Abbott’s 12-point plan to transform Australia, September 9).

To that basic 12-point plan, Abbott and his government are adding intensified trade deal negotiations with China, Japan and South Korea. And Tony Abbott and trade minster Andrew Robb are encouraging Australian businesses to focus on the countries to our north.

At the same time The Six are saying to the Coalition: “In the Senate we will back you provided you do not try and alter the Senate electoral rules."

The Six then add: “We will try to make sure you do not drop action on the significant Coalition policy issues."

One of those significant policies was to break the cartel-style agreements between big builders and big building unions. That policy is endangered by pressure from the large corporations and by what is happening in the East West Link in Victoria. Even though The Six do not take their Senate seats until July 1, they will press the government very hard to ensure the cartel-style agreements are broken in Victoria’s East West Link. After July 1, The Six will give the government all the legislative support it needs to lock the cartel-style agreements out and reduce the cost of Australian infrastructure (Abbott’s East West infrastructure test, October 10).

And that will happen again and again as the issues arise.

So this is a time for Australians to realise that after the chaos, our electoral system has delivered stability most other countries will envy.

Effectively, we currently have had a non-mining strike in capital investment. And the miners are now also on strike for new projects. Now is the time to change that, first in non-mining and later in resource development as the destruction of the cartel-style commercial agreements and the encouragement of independent contracting transform the nation.

Now is the time to look at your labour force and see what efficiencies and innovation can be achieved by independent contracting or better management of employees where contracting does not work. And whatever you do with your labour force it will only make sense if your capital equipment is equal to the best in the world. Whether you like it or not that is the world the Coalition and The Six are leading us into.

Now is the time to strike up a new relationship with your small enterprise suppliers and customers and make sure your agreements are fair – and seen to be fair. Fair contracts between large enterprises and small enterprises is a lynchpin policy of the Coalition's 12-point plan which The Six will demand to be introduced, even though there will be strenuous opposition from big companies and big organisations.

The Coalition government wants businesses to go into Asia. Now Australia has a stable base at home, international visas can be considered.

The decision by The Six to support the government – provided it implements its pledges – is truly a nation-changing event.